Wednesday Tim Bits

I like Tim Hortons, so giving out Tim Bits to others is like me handing out awards, so I thought today I would dole out some yearly awards, via the Tim Bit, since I hoard them.

Also, if I give out a sour cream, not a good sign for you, I hate those ones, and if you get a jelly filled one, consider yourself truly blessed.

Okay so let's get this party started....

A Tim Bit goes to Paul Beeston for finally giving up this "search" and realising that the Rogers brass are really only comfortable with you steering the Blue Jays fortunes. He has the experience, and for the next 3 years he will handle the hard selling job to the suits to get whatever budget The Beest decides will elevate the talent.

Of course he gets this winter to show which direction ( financially ) he and his baby GM are taking this team. So, Paul, right now, you get a Dutchie, or Double Chocolate, but if we emerge from the winter slumber to find ourselves with no Halladay, scant prospects and no free agent additions, gloves are off.

A Tim Bit goes to Scott Kazmir, because his throwing error against the Yankees was horrendous, but he was front and centre and did not avoid reporters, he admitted it was a little league type mistake, then corrected himself to say, A little leaguer would have made that throw better than I did. I F@&* ed up the play, I wish I had another chance. I applaud the honest athlete. Grab a coffee, and start dunking.

A Tim Bit goes to Jim Thome, who was asked whether he'd retire from baseball, since the LA Dodgers are unlikely to re sign him. Thome replied, of course I want to keep playing, I need to play, can you imagine what would happen to me if I didn't ? I can't play golf worth spit, and I'd end up gaining way too much weight, my wife would leave me. You have to love the passion the man brings.

A Sour Cream bit goes to Tony La Russa, the Cardinals, and Bud Selig for the signing of Mark McGwire as the new St.Louis hitting coach. I am sorry, but steroids aside, what makes Big Red qualified to reach hitters, and many young ones his art of swinging. Granted , the big guy could crank em out, but he struck out at an alarming rate as well. Sluggers never make good hitting instructors, as they are usually dead pull hitters, guess hitters who make their cake mashing fastballs, and off speed pitches left out and juicy to hit out. Sour Cream Bits all round for those in charge of that decision.

A Tim Bit goes to Joe Mauer, heck he should get a whole box of them, with MVP stamped on the side for his season, and consider he missed the 1st almost month of the season, can you imagine what numbers he'd have put up, plus he lost Morneau for almost all of September.

I am sending a whole bag of stale Tim Bits to the the crews of TBS, Fox, and the umpiring crews for the divisional series. This year marked the worst broad casted, and worst umpired. Ask Joe Mauer, heck ask any of the teams, they'd admit to some of the worst balls/strikes, and foul line calls, and with additional umps, you have to get that stuff right. Just ugly.

Individual awards are fleeting, but a Tim Bit, well that's truly a worth while return.

The Subtle art of Deception

I guess that despite the utter dominance exhibited by the Yankees ( 3-1 lead ) one had to look for other compelling stories to concentrate on.


Aron and Big Tex and Sabathia are doing what they get paid for, Jeter catches ball in foul territory and you hear comparisons to Gehrig, Ruth, and Mantle, so far be it for me to tarnish the pinstripe's, but, there was this issue with Mariano Rivera.

Did he or didn't he spit on the baseball.

YouTube clip looks damning, but I trust YouTube and Wikapedia about the same, I am always tempted to re write history in Wikapedia just to prove how fallible the internet is. MLB TV is more conclusive, and their camera angle was poor. Fox ( a good football network ) generally does not know what to do in case of a controversy anyhow.

The last legal spit baller was Burliegh Grimes, and he wore baggy pants, so you know it's been awhile. Gaylord Perry did use KY jelly, Vaseline, Brylcream ( shameless advertisements ) and then just went to his hat , his waistband and wanted the hitters to THINK he was doctoring the ball.


Advantage Gaylord.



So if Mariano was caught dead to rights, why did nothing come of it. Kenny Rogers had mysterious black stuff and was caught, but not suspended. Well he was accused, not caught, but the evidence was amplke for CSI - MLB if they wanted to prosecute.













Is it just become acceptable to cheat, does anyone really care. I do, but I am in the minority, as more and more fans seem to care less and less. Manny's return after a 50 game suspension had a countdown to Mannywood extravaganza. T-shirt sales soared, fake dreadlocks and dew rags were sold. It was alove in.

Now I don't know if Rivera was guilty, guess there is no Mall Cop to pull him over and cite him, so we'll just move along and choose to look the other way. Baseball is still big bucks, networks clammer for the stars to succeed, so dissing them for cheating is not a good thing.

I agree with Brad D , one day, McGwire gets into the HOF, likely Barry too, they might wait a few years, but memories are short, and forgiveness to easily granted.

I loved Crosby, Nash, Stills and Young, and they sang a tune called, " Teach your Children Well", so when years from now we have junior high schoolers 'blood doping', or openly scuffing balls, bulking up, remember it used to frowned upon. It used to be you hid what you did, because if caught, you'd suffer the consequences. Now we just move along.


You reap what you sow....now off to Vegas for 5 days, Cheers !

Hail the Conquering Hero

Some days it's the big guys that come through, Jeter, Arod, Manny,
or Ryan Howard.

They get paid to play that role, and when they deliver, they get the accolades, and are
acknowledged as big game players.

Sometimes it's Bucky Dent, or Buddy Biancalana, or Jeff Mathis, or Ed Sprague,
or it's Gene Tenace. In post season, it's all about the moment.

You have opportunities thrust upon you, and you get your chance to play hero, or goat.
A costly error here or there are as devastating as the great catches. We will remember Matt Holliday for his dropped ball for St. Louis more than his great offense that helped propel the
Cardinals.

As these series roll along, it is nice to see different heroes emerge, like a Jeff Mathis, known as a great defensive catcher, but not for his offense. In Angel land this morning, Mathis will be a household name, and his image is plastered on the local papers. Good for Jeff, but chances are we won't hear much more, unless he becomes the hero again, maybe becomes the Gene Tenace of the Halos.

Tenace in 1973 for the A's socked game tying and game winning long drives to give the Athletics 2 vital wins against the Mets. Dave Duncan was hurting and was the regular catcher. Isn't it always the way for heroes. Never cast in that role, thrust into centre stage, and asked to play the lead role. The understudy becomes the star.

The road is also strewn with those who could not rise to the occasion, Barry Bonds until his last appearance with the Giants had very poor series when he was with Pittsburgh, but a HOF candidate outside of the playoffs.

With the World Series upcoming there are always those who no one expects to come through, heck Pat Borders hit .400 in 92.

Looking Regal

This week I am off to Vegas for 5 days,
and will be celebrating my 25th anniversary.
Will be staying at the MGM, so a few days away from post season baseball.

Promise to have a look at the boards to see the odds for the Jays for 2010.

Now this is not the first time in the City of Lost Wages, I have visited in 2006, but had scant time to take in the sights, but hope to catch some post season baseball, and NFL football next Sunday.



So far, the weather has been the story in New York, and some Arod theatrics. He is starting to shed the rap of post season choker, with his Game 2 ninth inning hit.

The Phillies head home 1-1 , and once again , weather will be an issue, cold weather that is, just glad they were not playing in Boston today, with that winter blast that the Patriots and Titans enjoyed, the schedule makers would start hitting their panic buttons.

Cliff Lee has pitched in bad weather in the past ( Cleveland ) but not this late in the year, and as a control pitcher, the grip on the ball is important, so we'll watch for his ability to keep the ball away from Kemp, Ethier and Manny's wheelhouse.

So far the 2 Southern Cal teams are in tough spots, Dodgers are a good road club, but Philly has Lee, and then can come back with Hamels in Game 4, on short rest, or give the ball to Blanton and save Hamels for an all important potential clincher in Game 5. I f this goes to a Game 6, maybe we'll see Pedro try and dust off his old club, the Dodgers.

Unless Figgins and the base bugs on the Halos start getting on base, the Angels are going to get dusted off very quickly, because the Yanks are looking very "regal" and very " championship like" up 2-0. Angels need to get to a Yankee starter early, and get their running game in high gear because that's how they win games.

Some quick playoff predictions before the games begin, and to save my self the embarrassment, I will do this round by round.

The clock will finally strike midnight for the Twins, who must have dragged themselves into New York around 1 am, if they were lucky. Yanks have set rotation , are well rested, and home field advantage. While I would love to see New York falter, I just cannot see it.

Yanks win in 3 straight, the twins will make it close, but they have a weaker rotation, and the bottom 3 hitters wouldn't make the Yankees bench squad.

The Red Sox venture to southern California, and get 2 warm games so excuse them for maybe falling victim to the sweet seduction of the west coast, and a dash of Lackey and Weaver. Through a suddenly hot Ervin Santana, and for good measure alternate lefties Joe Saunders and Scott Kazmir, and voila, they out match the Red Sox. But as these are the Sox, give them at least one game, but Halos prevail.

That's the AL, now onto the NL.

The other Cinderella story is the Rockies, and all they get is the defending World Series champs from Philly. Now I don't see the Rox winning, but I do see them challenging the Phils. If they ever get to closer's role in Philly, they may wish for the return of Mitch Williams.

Lee and Hamels are leagues better than what Colorado have, so this one goes 4 with Philles prevailing.

Now the last of the 4 divisional series pits the 2 large brains, in Tony LaRussa and Joe Torre, and make no mistake, these 2 will try and out manage each other, and they do not even like one another. Edge going in goes to St.Louis behind Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter, and the LA bats were pretty quiet up until last Saturday, so the advantage is all Cards.

However, we play this between the white lines folks, and my hunch is it will go the distance and St.Louis will win in 5.

The addition of Matt Holliday to the middle of the line up, and the depth of Cardinals rotation, giving Carpenter the Game 1 assignment, meaning he can start twice, and both would be home games.

This will easily be the best played series, and will be the closest in terms of scores, unless Torre decides he wants to pitch to Albert Pujols, then all bets are off. The Cards weakness is the back end of their rotation, and maybe middle relief, which may not be a big factor in a short series.

We'll see how smart I am by this time next week.

A Game for the Ages

In the just concluded AL Central divisional tiebreaker, the Twins prevailed over the Detroit Tigers by a score of 6-5 in 12 innings.
Tigers fought hard, and had many chances to put the Twins away, but could not. They had bases loaded in the top of the 12th, with 1 out and could not push across a run. Than 54,088 fans for spurring the home squad to keep reaching back and finding ways to put down Tiger rallies.
Alexi Casilla throwing Miggy Cabrera out at home.

You'd think the Twinkies had won the World Series, all that was missing was a heavy dose of post game fireworks. However the Twins had won 17 of there last 21, to close the gap, and force this season to extras. Somehow I had a feeling this could not go a normal 9 innings, right.

A game of two Cabreras, Miguel, fresh from his weekend controversy belted a 3 run jack off Scott Baker, who has given up a lot of those this year, but Orlando Cabrera banged a 2 run tater to erase the Tiger lead, and then the see saw began, and they exchanged body blows, and went on into the night.

I though Ron Gardenhire was going to jump out of his skin when Delmon Young threw the ball to 3rd base hoping to nail Cabrera, and allowing the hitter to trot into 2nd base, and the double play was eliminated. An intentional walk loaded the bases and Tigers had their chance, but as they did in September, they stumbled and if destiny was with Twins for real, maybe the Yankees have something to worry about.

Well the real playoffs start tomorrow, but I am not sure MB has not stumbled upon a great way to drum up new fans, and hype. The way to get this post season "party started" might be to add that 1 extra play in game, like the NCAA Men's Basketball, the 64 & 65 teams play in to play against the top seed. In this case, the Yanks.

So far , each of these games has had high drama, and has centre stage. I am for more of this, this was a game for the ages.

Eating some Crow

Well I did not believe that neither the Twins or Tigers would procrastinate the inevitable meeting with the New York Yankees, but I was in err.


The Tigers and Twins will meet up for one last game at the Metrodome on Tuesday to decide who gets to play the pin striped millionaires. Thrilling isn't it ?


Can anyone truly get worked up outside of Detroit who fumbled their seemingly safe lead to a team with no great top of the rotation pitcher, and the loss of their big bat in Justin Morneau ?


I guess in the Twin Cities, and Motown they do, and ESPN or FOX, whomever is broadcasting this event won't mind a mini bump in their viewers on Tuesday, but this delays the inevitable.



Of course, valiant readers, I said that about the Twins chances going into the last week of the season, and I repeated the phrase "it's over" after the Twins failed to sweep their double header, but them Tigers just had to put the "most" back into "almost dead".



Have not seen who will toss the ball for both squads, not that it will matter, because perhaps they will use all their pitchers in the same game, this 1 gamer smacks of an extra inning affair, with all the drama of choosing sides for the office softball championship.



Sorry folks, I cannot get excited about this more, but neither team stands much of a chance if they win tomorrow. Verlander had to throw yesterday, and therefore he cannot pitch Tuesday, and won't throw until probably Game 3 at least. According to ESPN. they show rookie Rick Porcello set to face Twins starter Scott Baker. Meaning if Tigers win, they would likely send Edwin Jackson in Game 1, the Twins have Duensing the lefty , another rookie as their possible Game 1 starter.


Oh, and the Yankees have a rested bullpen, and CC Sabathia primed and ready for the Bronx Bombers.





ESPN's ( and Canada's own ) Dan Schulman thinks the Yanks can be beaten in a short series, and I would agree, but the Yanks & either the Twins /Tigers won;t get a 1 game shot, they have to win 3, and that means trouble for either squad because their rotations are a mess.


Waiting in the wings are the Halos and Red Sox, who are hoping that someone does dust off the Yanks, or at least extend the series.

At least the National League had the good sense to get their affairs in order with the Dodgers finally securing the NL West. The Rockies did the impossible a few years ago, winning what 100 straight games, then practically sweeping their playoff opponents, and then were spent by the time they faced ROID SOX of Manny and Papi, and were swept themselves.

Theirs was a compelling story, the Rockies had to win or be out, then had to travel to San Diego and beat Jake Peavy, which they did, then were supposed to lay down against the Phils, which again they choose not to do.

The Twins are sentimental faves, but just barely, the Tigers with their payroll exceeding the Twinkies by at least $ 50 million shoulda, woulda , coulda dusted off the Twins, and set their pitchers up properly for a chance at beating NY. Ain't gonna happen now.

Give the Twins some credit, so I will pick them to somehow eke out a miracle win, with Joe Nathan tossing at least an inning plus to secure their spot.

Well, I am off to find some salt, and maybe some ketchup, seems I am to eat some crow today.

Bon appetite'

Yesterdays newspaper

Well it was a day or 2 early, or was it about 5 years too late, but GM J.P. Ricciardi was fired by interim Presdient Paul Beeston.
The the Jays took the field, sleepwalked through the first 5-6 innings, then a rain delay, then a minor comeback attempt, and head to the showers.



The meeting arranged by Jays team reps Vernon Wells and Aaron Hill was to clear the air about the Cito Gaston article by Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal. It was clear there was substance to the story, but the origin was unclear.
Unless you realise that the story came through a US media source, and not the local scribes like the Globe's Jeff Blair, or the Sun's Bob Elliott. What is likely is the story came through comments made off the record, or strategic slips by the now former GM. Maybe drag a few guys down with you, kick a little sand, toss a little mud. It's not like this story came from BJ Ryan, or ex Yankees Hinske, Burnett, but more from the guy waiting at the gallows for the bottom to drop out.


This season has been such a disaster in so many ways, tell me, how bad does the Gord Ash era look to you now ? J.P. was close once, in 2006, but the team was a mere 12 games over .500, so an off year in the AL East, for sure.

All we can hope is a complete revamp of the front office.

Memo to Rogers ( from all the fans )

" If you want our business next year, sell a major share of the club to RIM, have Beeston hire a new President, and make sure the budget allows us to keep Halladay, sign Jason Bay, maybe Eric Bedard, and for heavens sake, let's get a GM with some previous success, not just another numbers cruncher, who reads about some colleges kid who walks 150 times a year"

One more article about the Jays, and that will be it until there is some news from the front office.

Last kick at the can or the manager

It is the last weekend of the regular season, and as the Jays prepare to take their season long frustrations out against the Orioles, the Canadian Press report that many players are fed up with current manager Cito Gaston. The way the team has been swinging the bats, if I was Cito I would not turn my back on these guys.

In any clubhouse not all the players are going to be happy, life is not like that. Usually they say a good manager/coach has 3 factions at work. Harry Neale said it best, " a third of guys hate you, a third like you, and you try and keep the last third from listening to the first third " Or something like that. I am sure Piniella has detractors in Chicago, same for LaRussa, Ozzie Guillen, Leyland but all these managers have the same problem, you cannot please everyone.

The fact of the matter is I personally have questioned Cito more lately for his commentary than his managerial skills. His style is always the same, let the players play, and don't tinker. It had success in 93 and 94, and for much of Cito Round # 1, but has not worked out this time.

Is it fair to blame Gaston when they had so many rookies in their rotation, and injuries galore, surrendering Rios, another poor Wells year, lack of power at 1st and tossing Rolen away. Yes and no, the manager gets too much credit and too much blame in my mind.

What concerns me is he wades into areas best left to the GM, commenting on Halladay not coming back, same for Barajas, maybe is just not sitting well with me. The lack of a true direction by Rogers, and Paul Beeston has left a void, and Riccardi has stepped back because he is just waiting for the axe to fall. No point in JP chat sizing fans, players, media, ownership because he wants another gig elsewhere, and sour grapes now does not go over well. As Woody Harrelson says in the new movie Zombieland ( which might describe the crowds at the Rogers Centre ) " You have to nut up or shut up" JP Riccardi has chosen the later.

Cito should have just kept his opinions quiet, but his has been the lone voice heard, and a negative voice at that. Players feel Cito has largely mailed it in since the All Star Break, but I could argue that about certain players as well, but with Cito's legacy, is this how he wants to go out, pointing fingers at his players, saying there is not enough talent, making half hearted trips to the mound in blow outs, sticking with a pat line up most nights.

In closing I don't disagree with a total house cleaning, beginning with Paul Beeston, Riccardi and Gaston & crew. A clean slate is required, but it would surprise me if some of these guys are still there next year. I wrote months ago that I was dearly hoping that Blackberry mogul Jim Balsillie would end this pursuit of a 7th team in Canada, and link arms with Rogers, take an ownership position that assists him in cross promotion through the Rogers Corp. Jim has bags of cash, and a passion for sports, and Rogers could use the infusion of cash and energy within the ballclub. A payroll of $ 125-130 million ( funded by a new corporate sponsor -RIM ) and a new president, new GM, and managerial staff might even convince the Doc to sign an extension and $$$'s to spend in the off season.